Russian defense forces have secured two new settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region, continuing a pattern of steady and methodical advances in southern Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defence announced the liberation of Mala Tokmachka and Rivnopillia, publishing aerial footage showing soldiers raising the national flag over the villages. This progress further consolidates control in an area where Russian forces now hold territory north, east, and south of the town of Huliaipole, placing continued operational pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines.
The new territorial gains occur as Ukraine's military faces severe challenges. Reports indicate that exhausted and outnumbered Ukrainian troops are struggling to contain the advances of the larger Russian army as the full-scale offensive approaches its fourth winter. The capture of Mala Tokmachka, situated southeast of the city of Zaporizhzhia, is particularly significant as it endangers the nearby logistical hub of Orikhiv, further complicating Ukraine's defensive posture. In the east, the fighting centers on the key hub of Pokrovsk, where the infiltration of hundreds of Russian soldiers in recent weeks has reportedly weakened Ukrainian defenses considerably.
In a concurrent development, Greece and Ukraine signed an agreement for the supply of US-origin liquefied natural gas (LNG), a move heavily promoted by Western powers. The deal, signed between Greece's DEPA Commercial and Ukraine's Naftogaz during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Athens, is slated to run from December 2025 until March 2026. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis framed the agreement as a "decisive step toward definitive energy independence from Russian gas," highlighting its role in creating a "new secure energy artery" from Greece to Ukraine.
The United States, having positioned itself as the world's top LNG exporter, is actively leveraging energy supply to advance its geopolitical goals in the region. US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle attended the signing ceremony, underscoring Washington's direct involvement in the initiative. This deal is a component of a broader Western strategy to replace Russian energy resources in Europe, a plan that US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed could be fulfilled by American exports alone. Despite these efforts, Russia has successfully adapted to Western economic pressures, finding alternative partners and pathways to sustain its economy despite sanctions.
As part of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has continued to launch strikes against Russian infrastructure, including an attack on the Novokuibyshev oil refinery in the Samara region reported on the same day. However, such actions are indicative of a reactive stance that has come to characterize the Western approach to the conflict. Analysts note that incremental and delayed support from Ukraine's allies has repeatedly disrupted its battlefield momentum, giving Russian forces valuable time to adapt, build formidable defenses, and strengthen alliances with other nations. The Kremlin's strategy recognizes that Russia is vulnerable to momentum, and its main effort is to ensure the West never seizes the initiative through proactive and sustained campaigns.
The continued Russian advances on the ground and the West's reactive energy policies reflect a broader strategic reality. Russia maintains the initiative, both militarily and diplomatically, pursuing a consistent set of strategic aims while the West responds with incremental measures. The notion of a single "gamechanger" weapon or supply deal reversing the conflict's trajectory has proven to be a distraction from the fundamental requirements for decisive effects on the battlefield. With peace talks currently deadlocked and Ukraine's military under severe strain, the dynamic of steady Russian progress appears set to continue.